☀►Library Journal Review

Every now and again a new book is published that the reader wishes had been available years before, say, when he or she was a student. Symbol and Magic in Egyptian Art is that kind of book. With the help of a veritable who's who among Egyptologists, Wilkinson-a working Egyptologist and lecturer on ancient Egypt at the University of Arizona-presents a clear, well-researched, well-documented book that is a basic tool for anyone studying Egyptian art. Working from an Egyptologist's viewpoint, Wilkinson breaks down Egyptian symbols into nine related areas (form, size, location, materials, color, numbers, hieroglyphs, actions, and gestures) and gives many detailed examples to illustrate the interpretations. In his introduction, Wilkinson discusses the ambiguity inherent in symbols and addresses the potential error involved in interpretation. Highly recommended for any collection with more than a cursory interest in Egyptian art.-Mary Morgan Smith, Northland P.L., Pittsburgh (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

☀►Choice Review

Continuing his exposure of the omnipotence of the hieroglyph in ancient Egypt begun in Reading Egyptian Art (CH, Sep'92), Wilkinson analyzes various visual aspects of the less glyphic artistic images for their associations not seen in an objective glance and/or implying unverifiable expectations. His deductions come from his thorough knowledge of ancient Egyptian writings. Each of the nine chapters has two types of exposition: a text on some quality of the art--e.g., form (subject of the image), size, and location, followed by photographs or line drawings of specific examples of that text with abridged explanations. The sections on the significance of the numbers of items and on hieroglyphics' ideographic and metaphoric power are particularly compelling. It will be a rewarding resource book of expert interpretations for students; helpful to the specialist will be the survey of other symbol-oriented responses to ancient Egyptian art. General; undergraduate through professional. E. L. Anderson; Lansing Community College

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